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Throughout Asia, there is a long tradition of domesticating Asian small-clawed otters to hunt for fish. The trained otters are released into the water to harass fish and drive them into fisherman’s nets.
It is the smallest of the 16 otter species. Its range covers India, China and Southeast Asia. A very small population still exists in Singapore, on offshore islands including Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin. This animal lives in a social group of up to 15 individuals, inhabiting coastal areas and paddy-fields. The otter has a streamlined body, thick tail and webbed digits to enable it to swim well.
Otters have two kinds of hair, an outer layer of thick guard hair coated with oil to repel water, and a layer of fine, dense underfur. Only the guard hair gets wet when an otter goes into the water. The underfur remains dry to keep it warm.
To hunt, the otter uses its sensitive whiskers and nimble fingers to help it ‘feel for food’. In murky waters or on very dark nights, it relies on its whiskers to detect the vibrations made by fish. Using its sense of touch, it dips its nimble fingers into mud and crevices to probe for snails, clams and crayfish. Clams are usually brought on land and left to open in the sun before consumption.
A strong scent greets visitors at the otter exhibits along the Fishing Cat and Leopard Trails. Otters use their droppings and secretions from the anal glands to mark their territories, hence the scent.
Like most aquatic animals, Asian small-clawed otters face the problems of habitat loss due to urbanisation, and water pollution.
Come see the otters at Night Safari’s Creatures of the Night Show this December and learn how otterly awesome they are this Christmas!
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